Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-26
Remarkable CatalGDdC.
A NAP THAT HAS LASTED FOX TWO
HUNDRED AND NINETEEN DAYS.

it. For two hundred and nineteen
days she has slept, aud all the in
genuity and skill that have been
brought to bear to bring her back
to consciousness have been un-
availIng. She continues to sleep
day after day, and has wasted
away physically until now she is
almost a phantom.
Local spiritualsts declare her to
| be in the trance state and says she
will make some astonishing revela-
tions before long. Cranks Of all
caIibres besiege the hospital, de-
sirons OF attaining a view of the
famous sleeper, but they are rigid
ly excluded,
Meanwhile the impassive object
of their curiosity sits in the easy
chair IN Ward Z of the hospital,
gradually nearing sleep that shall
be eternal, she rarely moves mus
Gle, and should the attendent raise
her arm and not replace it on her
lap it would remain in the exact
position in which it had been placed
until again moved by the doctor or
nurse.
SHE ALARMS THE WARD.
The sleeper furnished everybody
a surprise yesterday. However, old
Mrs. Burns, who knew Mrs. Her
bert before her catelepsy occurred,
occupies the same ward with her,
and yesterday vas left alone for a
time with the sleeper. Sister Bar
bara, hearing an alarm from that
ward, hastened thither and found
| Mrs. Burns crOuched upon the floor,
crossing herself vigorously, and in
state of great excitement. When
| questioned she told the following
story of her experience with Mrs.
| Herbert -
"Lord help me! but | thought
I'd have a fit when | saw the lids
of her eyes roll up and she lookin
at me wild all her might as if she'd
look a hole through me body
| When she seen how bad | was
scared she set up a laughin' and
| thin before | could get a word in
edgeways she begin to rattle away
about her nelghbors as fast as a
horse conld trOt. The sound of her
voice was so sharp that it give me
a pain in my ears, and shook me
| hand at her by way of bidin' her
| to stop her clatter, but she kept
right on, lex she was wound mp fur
a month. At last she stopped long
enough to take her breath, when l
axed why it was she didn't spake
of her children whin they came to
see her t'other day. Wud ye be-
lieve it. the minute put that to
her she snapped her eyes shut lex
two traps, and her jaws wlnt to-
gether like a bang. Divil
the word more could | get out OF
her. so | called to Sister Barbary,
and tow!d her just what Pm tellin'
We now. | haven't got over the
fright It's given me yet, and if 1t
wasn't that | have the rheumatlcs
so bad in me legs I'd hev been out
of the room the moment she opened
her eyes"
1.-THE DOCTOR HAS AN EXPERIENCE
oil DIR. Ward, the physician who has
o attended Mrs. Herbert closely, had
: a similar experience with her about
& two months ago. She had ther
@ been asleep three months, but the
o doctor was not even then cOnvlnc
h ed that she was not shamming.-
a One day he observed that the pose
Il of the woman's head indicated thai
f she had been leaning forward anC
O had quickly Strengthened 1t up a.
r. he entered the room. Her hand.
n were extremely cold and her lips
r, deep purple. Her face was as pal
lid as death. The doctor told he
3 to stand up. She did not move
n until he touched her shoulder, wheI
r she Immediately stood up as re
"a 1uested, her arms hanging llfeles
at her sides. The doctor then ha'
a small footstool placed in thel
i path, aud then said, "Now, Mrs
). Herbert, we will take our mornlnI
n walk
is at may have been Imagination,
d said the doctor, "but | thought
E. saw the suggestion of a smile pla
il about the corners of her mouth a
D. | spoke to her. However, holdin
t. her hand in mine, led the way t
Dc the centre of the room, where Sis
Di ter Barbara had placed the foo
D. stool, and as we neared it | quick
u ened the pace somewhat, and Mr.
Ie Herbert trlpped over it and woul
III certainly have fallen had ! not bee
N there to catch her. AS she straight
D. ened herself up she opened her eye
10 for a moment only and then burS
70 out laughing. 1t seemed to be
Il' hysterical laugh. bnt she was owe
it in a moment, and she became 81
parently as insensible as ever t
- any physical emotion from that da
n until yesterday, when she is a
:, legged to have talked at length
= Mrs. Burns.
PHYSICIANS PUZZLED.
n sit is certainly the case," cOntil
,e ued DR.. Ward, "that she is no